This document provides tips for improving presentations based on the author's experience giving hundreds of presentations. Some of the key tips include avoiding bullet point slides and instead using separate slides for each point; making slides actionable by including steps audiences can take; tailoring content to the audience's level of knowledge; crafting a narrative structure for the presentation; and speaking passionately about topics you're excited about. The author also shares some personal presentation hacks like outlining slides in Gmail and putting completed slide decks on SlideShare.

1. Making Presentations BetterHelpful pieces I’ve learned over the years giving several hundred presentations to a wide variety of audiences.http://bit.ly/randsprestipsBy Rand Fishkin, September 2011

2. Getting Good at PresentationsTakes Serious TimeRand really sucked when he started out.

3. I was at least this scared

4. Rule #1:No Bullet Point Slides!Bullet

5. Points

6. Kill

7. KittensLook at this Lovely Slide. Amazing, right?Do this one thing

8. Then do this other thing

9. Now do thing #3

10. And, finally, thing #4!http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.htmlSo painful! Why do you hate kittens?

11. Actually, you just pulled this triggerhttp:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.htmlYou monster!

12. Next time, go with 4 separate slideslike these next 4:http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

13. Do This One Thing:http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.htmlScreenshots of relevant tweets that illustrate your point are an easy way to add a visual

14. Then Do This Other Thing:vs.Comparing a “right” vs. “wrong” way on one slide (or two) is another great visual way to explain your points.http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

15. Now Do Thing #3Long tail of video sites get 50% of all online video traffic/views!Marketers love charts and graphs, particularly if you’ve made them personally but EVEN IF you just use something off the web! Screenshots of Google Analytics, for example http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

16. And, finally, do thing #4This Other ThingThis thingA Third ThingUsing just the visuals of Powerpoint itself (boxes and arrows) still make for better, more informational slides than bullet points.http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

17. Rule #2:Make It Actionable!Give me something I can do after seeing your slide that will improve my site/rankings/traffic/marketing

18. Who’s Mentioned You on Google+?STEP 1: Click NotificationsSTEP 2: Click MentionsThe action here is obvious – to find your mentions on Google+, you can follow the two arrows and get the list.http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

19. True Reach of RSS Content via FeedburnerOn average, this many people actually read a post via feedAgain, an obvious action – use the “reach (on average)” number as a KPI for tracking your feed’s success (or lack thereof)http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

20. Rule #3:Make the Content Fit the AudienceWhen in doubt, always go for too advanced over too basic (but make sure to research attendees before you make your outline).

21. Beginner Audience? Walk Them Through Step by Step and Don’t Assume Knowledge:PaidOrganichttp:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.html

22. Advanced Audience? Share Stuff They Haven’t Heard/Seen Before:http:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.htmlMany social marketers won’t yet have seen http://www.findpeopleonplus.com/

23. Rule #4:Craft a Narrative ArcLoss -> Journey -> Test -> Return.Just like middle school humanities class.

24. The Outline is the Place to StartInbound Marketing OutlineHow Things Used to Be Sold

25. How Things are Sold Today

26. Marketers Have Been Left Behind

27. Why Inbound Rocks

28. Inbound Tactics

29. How to Measure

30. Story of Inbound Combining to WorkLossJourneyTestReturnAnother Narrative Embedded by Way of an Example Storyhttp:/googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/our-new-search-index-caffeine.htmlI like to make my outlines directly in Gmail, so I can access and edit anywhere.

31. Rule #5:Speak from the heart.When you’re passionate about a topic, and have real emotion behind your data/tips, it shines through!

32. When you’re excited, they’re excited! (and no, you don’t need to wear a suit)

33. Rule #6:Making fun of the English = OKBollocks me MugglesHogswollop